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The Red Sox announced that Middlebrooks was scratched from Saturday's game against the Brewers because of calf cramping, but it's a far more serious injury than that. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Sunday and could very well be headed for the 15-day disabled list. Jonathan Herrera started at third base on Saturday night.

Yadier Molina (head) is out of the Cardinals' lineup Tuesday versus the Cubs.

Molina was removed from Monday's series opener after taking consecutive foul tips off his mask in the top of the seventh inning. He did not look to be in very good shape as he slowly made his way off the field and the veteran catcher could very well be done for the remainder of the 2017 regular season. Carson Kelly is starting behind the plate and batting eighth Tuesday night against Chicago.

Hicks, fresh off missing most of September with an oblique strain, will bat leadoff in his return. Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner are both on the bench against lefty Blake Snell while Clint Frazier makes a start in left field.

Murphy was held out of Monday's lineup with what manager Dusty Baker described as "general soreness." Apparently he's not quite right just yet, and the Nationals don't have any need to push things this close to the playoffs. Howie Kendrick will play second base.

Bryce Harper (knee) will bat second in his return from the disabled list Tuesday against the Phillies.

Harper has been testing himself in simulated games, but this will be his first real game action since injuring his left knee by slipping on the first base bag back on August 12. It's unclear if he'll play every day the rest of the way, but the Nationals are hoping to get him back in rhythm before the NLDS begins. Harper has mostly hit third this season, so it will be interesting to see if this is what the Nationals have in mind for him for the postseason.

Betts was pulled from Monday's game with left wrist discomfort and was scheduled to be examined on Tuesday. Red Sox manager John Farrell indicated that they were just playing things safe, but more should be known about his status soon. Chris Young will make the start in right field.

According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Mets will tender a contract to Matt Harvey for next season.

There has been plenty of chatter about Harvey's future amid his struggles and continued injury issues, but Mets general manager Sandy Alderson recently indicated that the Mets were strongly leaning in that direction. The 28-year-old has a miserable 6.60 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 17 starts and one relief appearance this season, but Heyman hears that the Mets are encouraged by his recent velocity. He's likely to see only a small raise from his $5.125 million salary via arbitration, so it's a worthy gamble to bring him back for his walk year.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Terry Collins is expected to be informed as early as next Monday that his contract won't be renewed for next season.

Previous reports have indicated the same thing, so it appears to be a foregone conclusion at this point. The Mets have had all sorts of injuries this season, so their poor season can't be blamed on Collins alone, but this could be the ideal time to start with a clean slate. According to Puma, Robin Ventura, Alex Cora and Kevin Long are "early persons of interest" as the club compiles a list of potential replacements. Bob Geren and Chip Hale could also be in the mix. The search should intensity soon.

He's done for the season, as Athletics manager Bob Melvin had previously indicated was likely. It's a rotten way for Olson's campaign to end, but the rookie had a mighty impressive showing with 24 home runs over just 59 games.

Marwin Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with a homer, three RBI, and three runs scored in the Astros' 11-2 thrashing of the Rangers on Monday.

Gonzalez struck out in his first at-bat, but he filled the box score from there. The 28-year-old slugger led off the top of the fourth inning with a single and then drove in two runs with another single later in that eight-run frame for Houston. Gonzalez belted a solo homer in the top of the sixth and added one more single for good measure in the top of the eighth. He's slashing .302/.371/.531 with 23 homers and 85 RBI in 129 games this season for the American League West champions.

Javier Baez finished 2-for-4 with a three-run homer Monday in the Cubs' 10-2 rout of the Cardinals.

Chicago's magic number to clinch the National League Central is now down to one. Baez went deep off Cardinals starter Luke Weaver in the top of the third inning and then tacked on a single in the top of the eighth before getting removed for late-sub Ian Happ. The 24-year-old infielder now has 23 home runs and 75 RBI in 141 games this season to go along with a .799 OPS.